good for beginners & experienced

Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 6:45 pm

This Mahayana sutra is included in the prajnaparamita literature. In Sanskirt the Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita is translated to “perfection of Wisdom which cuts like a thunderbolt. The sutra was composed in Sanskrit around the 2 century. Kumarajiva translated this sutra into Chinese around 401. Prajnaparamita, this wisdom beyond wisdom emerges from sunyata, emptiness. This is a major sutra in Zen Buddhism.

We will investigate the relevance of this ancient text in relationship to the world we live in. How do we ”cut through” ignorance and delusions? What is sunyata? Is it helpful? How do we cultivate prajnaparamita, this wisdom beyond wisdom? With curiosity, we will explore how this sutra supports us engaging with the cries of the world.

This teaching of the Buddha is not separate from the suffering of racism, climate change, and war. We will connect this ancient sutra with ourselves in relationship to our families, our communities and our environment. Our capacity of awakening is interconnected to the liberation of all beings. This is the transformation pivot.

The study of this sutra will include: reading the Diamond Sutra by Red Pine, zazen to deepen our capacity of stillness, small and large group discussions, including Council practice.